June 8, 2024, 3:46 AM
Benny Gantz is due to speak later today as a deadline for withdrawal from the Israeli government looms.
Via CNN’s Mostafa Salem and Tamar Michaelis
Former Israeli Defense Minister and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz attends a press conference in Ramot Naftali, Israel on October 29.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
Benny Gantz, Israel’s former defense minister and a leading member of the wartime cabinet, announced that there was no change to plans to withdraw Saturday from the wartime emergency government formed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Gantz is scheduled to hold a press conference in the city of Ramat Gan today at 8:40 p.m. local time (1:40 p.m. Eastern Time), his office confirmed.
How we got here: Gantz said last month that he and his National Unity Party would step down from power if Netanyahu did not draw up a plan to return Gaza hostages and present a next-day strategy for the war-torn strip by June 8. His other demands included the removal of Hamas and the return of Israeli residents to northern Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office rejected Gantz’s demands, saying an ultimatum would only hurt Israel.
Why is this important: Gantz’s withdrawal from the emergency government is unlikely to destroy Netanyahu’s majority in the Knesset, but the embattled prime minister risks further isolation on the international stage.
This comes at a time of large daily protests in Israel, with many demonstrators calling for immediate elections and the release of hostages, and some calling for an end to further humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
Gantz is seen as Netanyahu’s main political rival and frequently outranks him in popularity polls.
Biden said last week that the three-phase proposal had been submitted by the Israeli government, but Netanyahu has since said Israel would not stop fighting until Hamas was destroyed.
CNN’s Nadine Ebrahim contributed to this post.
